Easton Parking Authority Gets Favorable Report

September 27, 1985|by JOE NIXON, The Morning Call

The annual report and certificate from the consultant for the Easton Parking Authority has given good marks to the city's parking garage at 3rd and Ferry streets and has recommended no changes in garage operations.

Ramp Consulting Services of Manhasset, N.Y., told the authority in its report that no serious physical problems were noted in the 11 Robley Adams was "doing a good job on the continuing maintenance and repair."

The consultant estimated that garage income from all sources, including two municipal parking lots, should increase about $1,000 this year. Ramp said the increase in rent income from commercial space in the garage will offset the estimateddecreases in monthly and transient parker revenue. That decrease comes mainly through the closing of the Arcade parking lot June 30, in which about 15 spaces were lost.

In the net income area, Ramp said the parking garage and municipal parking lots have produced deficits for five consecutive years and expects another deficit of about $10,000 at the end of this year. That deficit is expected to be eliminated within the next two years, primarily through reduced electricty costs from new light fixtures and income from a new parking lot on North Third Street on the site of the old Boyd Theater. The city is negotiating for the sale of the 88-space lot with Easton National Bank and Trust Co., now Merchants Bank.

The parking garage is owned by the parking authority but is rented to and operated by the City of Easton.

In other matters last night, the authority voted to seek bids on concrete sealer for the parking garage. The authority is also facing other major work on the garage including a new communication system, new lighting and the replacement of sidewalks.

Authority Solicitor Phil Lauer was instructed to see if the projects could be paid for from the authority's bond redemption and improvement fund. That fund now stands at over $100,000. Some $175,000 from the sale of commerical space in the garage to Twin County Cable TV, Inc., will also go to the fund. Lauer said he thought the projects could be paid for from the fund, but would research the matter further.

Adams told the board he was worried about not getting the sealant work done this year before the cold weather sets in and also voiced concern over the "very dangerous situation that exists" because of the inoperative communication system.

The authority approved a 1986 budget of $5,775 last night, an increase of $650 over this year. Themain area of increase was in solicitor special services because of numerous garage projects expected in the near future.